Hydraulic hand propelled lifeboats



Jan. 21, 1964 w. F. HICKSON 3,118,420

1 HYDRAULIC HAND PROPELLED LIFEBOATS Filed April 22, 1957 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN VEN TOR. Wu 1 MA/ /I fl/CASQ/V Jan. 21, 1964 w. F. HICKSON HYDRAULIC HAND PROPELLED LIFEBOATS 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 22, 1957 FIG] Jan. 21, 1964 w. F. HICKSON 3,118,420

HYDRAULIC HAND PROPELLED LIFEBOATSI Filed April 22, 1957 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 llllllHlll INVEN TOR. W/L A A4 A ///0 KS a/v United States Patent 3,118,420 HYDRAULIC HAND PRUPELLED LIFEBOATS William F. Hickson, Westfield, Ni, assignor to Continental Topper & Steel Industries, Inc, a corporation of Delaware Filed Apr. 22, 1957, Ser. No. 654,259 11 Claims. (Cl. 115-21) The present invention relates to a lifeboat construction, and it particularly relates to a hand propelled lifeboat construction.

Although not limited thereto, the present invention will be particularly directed to a hydraulically actuated hand propelled lifeboat unit.

In present lifeboat constructions, it is frequently characteristic, where a motor or propulsion device is not provided, to locate a series of upwardly directed levers along the sides of the lifeboat, which may be operated by the passengers therein through mechanical arrangements, to drive the propeller and assure satisfactory propulsion of the lifeboat structure.

A frequent difliculty, however, arises due to the fact that the handle or lever members on opposite sides of the boat structure must be operated in a sequence or reversely in order to achieve the desired movement of the cranks, shafts and propeller.

To achieve this is usually quite difficult during the stress of rescue operations and overcrowding of the lifeboat with excited persons, and, frequently, considerable training is necessary before proper propulsion can be obtained with experienced manipulation of the levers on the opposite sides of the boat structure.

It is among the objectives of the present invention to provide a more readily propelled lifeboat construction in which no special training or experience is required and in which ordinary, untrained passengers will readily be able to cooperate to achieve the desired forward propulsion of the lifeboat.

Another object is to provide a hydraulic hand propelled lifeboat unit in which, without prior training and even under conditions of considerable stress or tension, it will be possible to achieve rapid forward propulsion 'of the lifeboat as soon as it is launched, regardless of overcrowding of the lifeboat or the type of passenger that may be carried thereby.

Still further objects and advantages will appear in the more detailed description set forth below, it being understood, however, that this more detailed description is given by way of illustration and explanation only and not by way of limitation, since various changes therein may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention.

In accomplishing the above objects, it has been found most satisfactory, according to one embodiment of the present invention, to provide a series of small hand pump units with upwardly extending actuated handles which will be arranged in pairs between the sealed units of the lifeboat structure.

These hand pump units will desirably feed into an accumulator which, through a valving unit, will supply hyraulic pressure, either reversely or forwardly to a hydraulic motor which in turn will feed into a reservoir.

This reservoir will hold the liquid which is to be supplied to the hand pumps.

Any number of small hand pumps may be utilized and their position may be varied to accommodate various seating arrangements.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, the invention consists of the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts as hereinafter will be more specifically described, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein is shown an embodiment of the inven- "ice tion, but it is to be understood that changes, variations and modifications can be resorted to which fall within the scope or" the claims hereunto appended.

In the drawings wherein like reference characters denote corresponding parts throughout the several views:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a lifeboat embodying the hydraulic hand propulsion unit of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of one of the pump units taken upon the line 2-2 of FIG. 1 and upon an enlarged scale as compared to FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a transverse vertical sectional view taken upon the line 3-3 of FIG. 2 of the hand pumps.

FIG. 4 is a transverse vertical sectional view of the hand pump taken upon the line d4 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a transverse vertical sectional View taken upon the line 55 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 6 is a vertical transverse sectional view taken upon the line 66 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 7 is a longitudinal sectional View of the hydraulic motor unit taken upon the line 77 of FIG. 1 and upon an enlarged scale as compared to FIG. 1.

FIG. 8 is a transverse longitudinal sectional view of an accumulator taken upon the line 8-8 of FIG. 1 and upon an enlarged scale as compared to FIG. 1.

FIG. 9 is a side elevational view, of the reservoir unit.

FIG. 10 is a diagrammatic layout of the hydraulic propulsion system.

FIG. 11 is a diagrammatic layout of an alternative form of hydraulic propulsion system.

Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown a lifeboat A having cross benches B, C, D, E, and P.

Between the benches B and C, C and D, and D and E are positioned the hand pump units G arranged in pairs which are actuated by the upwardly extending levers or handles each.

As shown in the flow chart of FIG. 10, the hydraulic pump units are supplied from the reservoir J by the conduit K which leads into the twin feed lines L.

The six pumps G, as shown, will feed under pressure into the common header end which supplies the hydraulic pressure to the accumulator N which will discharge through the 4-way valve unit P either to give forward motion in the conduit Q, reverse motion through the conduit R, or in neutral through the conduit S.

The conduit R and Q lead to the hydraulic motor T. The hydraulic motor T, as well as the neutral line S, will both discharge into the reservoir J, from which the hydraulic fluid may pass by the line K to the manual pumps G.

Referring to the hand pumps as shown in FIGS. 2 to 6, there is provided a body unit or pump lines 10 having a cylinder bored therethrough which receives the double headed plunger or piston 12. The ends of the cylinder 11 are sealed by the nuts or caps 13.

Along side of the cylinder 11 are positioned passageways 14 and 15 controlled by the spring seated valves 16 and 17. Said passageways are sealed off by the plugs 18 and 19.

By means of the spring seated valves 16 and 17, the hydraulic liquid will be drawn into the cylinders 11 from the conduit L and then expelled subsequently through the main header M, first from one end of the cylinder 11 and then from the other end of the cylinder 11.

The housing G will have an upper part 24} having a central recess receiving the member 21 having the pivot rod 22 fitting in the cross bore passage 23.

The ball 21 will have a downwardly extending stud 24 which fits into a recess 25 in the middle of the piston or plunger 12.

The ball has an upwardly extending stud 26 which is pinned at 27 to the sleeve 23 which engages the lower end of the lever H. The rod 29 has a P handle grip These hydraulic cylinders 11 and housings G provided with the release member 32 which rotates a .in

33 to cut oil flow from the utlet port 34-.

The operation or reciprocation of the handles B will force liquid under substantial pressure from the feed line K to the main outlet header M first from one side oi the plunger 12 and then from the other side of the plunger 12. The liquid will be forced into the acct tor N against a compressed body of an inert gas such as nitrogen which is forced into the area through the nipple connection 51 in the end cap 52 which is screwed onto the end 54 of the cylinder 55 by the threaded connection 53. The cylinder 55 will receive the cupchapet piston 56 having the peripheral recess and 58 receiving the sealing O-rings 59 and 69. The end board of the accumulator N has the studded connection 62 to the line or conduit M. The double arrows 6. that flow may take place into or out of the cylinder SSN on the right of the piston 56.

From the accumulator N the liquid will flow to the 4- way valve, diagrammatically illustrated in FIG. 10, which has an inlet port 64 and outlet port 65, so and 67.

The outlet ports 65 and 66 extend to the hydraulic motor T to give either reverse or forward motion of the propeller. Referring to the hydraulic motor T. there is provided body 75 which receives the cylinder 76 carrying the reciprocating piston members 77. One end of the body is closed oil by the plate 73 held in position by the bolts 79.

The end plate 78 also receives the connection 3L- to receive fluid under pressure from the accumulator N. The pistons 77 are provided with the end-bal1 members 81 which act upon the swash plate 82 and cause rotation of the shaft 83. The shaft 83 has a ball bearing 84, the spring clutch member 85 and the shaft extensions 86 and 87 which are connected as indicated by 83 in FIG. 1 to the shaft 89 leading to the boat propeller. The hydraulic motor T also carries the housing tl for the shaft bearing 91 which is held in position on the body '75 by the bolts 92.

The feed of hydraulic liquid to the ports 89 of the motor T are regulated by a valve not shown which forms no part of the present invention.

The hydraulic motor, with its reciprocating piston 77, will rotate causing a rotation of the shaft 66 and proelling the boat as a result of the hydraulic pressure which is being built up in the accumulator N.

The balls 81 will slide around on the face of the wash plate giving desired rotary move rent with the hydraulic pressure usually being fed into one of the connections 80 which is in the top position as shown in FIG. 7 and withdrawn out of the port 89 which is in the lower position as shown in FIG. 7.

The liquid, after it has driven the motor of FIG. 7 will flow into the reservoir I as shown in FIG. 9.

The reservoir J consists or" a cylindrical body with the end cups 101 and with the breathing tube under the cover 103.

The reservoir then will feed fluid into the inlet line K leading to the hand pumps G.

The lever or handle H may be swung bacltwardly and forwardly, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 6, so as to reciprocate the piston 12 which has a movers nt as indicated in FIG. 6 to and beyond the recesses at the ends of the bore. The application of pressure and withdrawal of pressure to alternate ports 80 will result in turning of the shaft 83 which, in turn, will rotat the propeller shaft. It will be noted that the cylinders which hold the piston 77 may turn within the housing 75 so as to turn the shaft 33. By continuously applying pressure to the upport port 8 and withdrawing it from the lower port 80 a rotary motion will be obtained inside of the housing turning the shaft 83. With the swash plate 82 being in fixed position and with the balls 81 r ing on the face of the swash plate cylinder 76 containing the pistons 77 is rotated with the pistons being reciprocated during said rotating movement. The piston, as shovm in FIG. 12, only need undergo a short reciprocating movement to give the necessary pressure. It will be noted that the swash plate 82 is fixed, while the cylinders 76 and pistons 77 rotate with the balls 81 riding on the swash plate.

he shaft 33 is connected to the cylinders 76 so that it will rotate with the cylinder 76.

As shown in FIG. '7, the pressure can always be ap plied through the upper port and withdrawn from the lower port 8 It is thus apparent that the present invention has provided a simple, eilective hydraulic tctuary system for lifcboats in which, without any particular plan of operation, reciprocation of the various handles H, whether in unison or at various intervals, may be emplo 'ed to fit in the accumulator N, drive the motor T and cause reliable propulsion of the lifeboat even though the boat may be in an overcrowded condition.

The system shown in FIG. 11 provides a two to one gear drive to the hand. propelling unit and as shown the liquid reservoir 15% is a source of supply for the hand pump 153 through the supply line 151 and the strainer 152.

The pump 153 is actuated by the handle 15-! and a number of pumps may be provided located at each pasenger position in too lifeboat. The pump supplies liquid under pressure through the line 155 from which it may pass at 158 into the accumulator 156 or at 159 to the valve 160.

The gauge 157 will indicate the pressure.

The valve 160 is provided with the control handle 161 which may be turned from solid line to dotted line position to direct the fluid either through the line 162 or through the line 163, which line 163 may be provided with the test gauge 163a.

The valve may also direct the liquid into a sump 155 from which it may be discharged or returned to the reservoir 150.

The lines 162 and 163 supply liquid to the hydraulic motor from whence it flows through the line 1 ,7 to the sump 18 or back to the reservoir 150.

The motor 166 will drive the gearing -471 through the shaft 169 which in turn will drive the propeller shaft 172.

The hydraulic system, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 10, is simple to install, is not likely to be deranged by the passengers, or by unusual stress at launcaing and at all times will be 'eady for quick and reliable operation.

The pump of FIGS. 2 to 4 may be of the construction illustrated in the Jenny Patent 2,886,947 and the motor of FIG. 7 may also be of the type illustrated in said lenny Patent 2,886,947.

While there has been herein described a preferred form of the invention, it should be understood that the same may be altered in details and in relative arrangement of parts within the scope of the appended claims.

Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, what is claimed is:

1. A hydraulic hand actuated propulsion system for liteboats of the type having a propeller and propeller shat" t to drive the propeller and a plurality of spaced seats, comprising a plurality of hand actuated hydraulic pumps. one position at each seat, a reservoir to supply liquid to the hydraulic pumps, a hydraulic accumulator to receive liquid under pressure from the pumps, and a hydraulic motor to drive said propeller shaft in turn driven by the hydraulic pressure applied to it from said accumulator, conduits connecting said pumps to said reservoir and to said accumulator and motor.

2. A hydraulic hand actuated propulsion system for lifeboats of the type having a propeller and propeller shaft to drive the propeller and a plurality of spaced seats, comprising a plurality of hand actuated hydraulic pumps, one position at each seat, a reservoir to supply liquid to the hydraulic pumps, a hydraulic accumulator to receive liquid under pressure from the pumps, and a hydraulic motor to drive said propeller shaft in turn driven by the hydraulic pressure applied to it from said accumulator, said conduit connecting said motor and accumulator being provided with a valve permitting either forward or reverse propulsion of the boat, conduits connecting said pumps to said reservoir and to said accumulator and motor.

3. A hydraulic hand actuated propulsion system for lifeboats of the type having a propeller and propeller shaft to drive the propeller and a plurality of spaced seats, comprising a plurality of hand actauted hydraulic pumps, one position at each seat, a reservoir to supply liquid to the hydraulic pumps, a hydraulic accumulator to receive liquid under pressure from the pumps, and a hydraulic motor to drive said propeller shaft in turn driven by the hydraulic pressure applied to it from said accumulator, said reservoir receiving liquid from the motor and supplying liquid to said pumps and also provided with a direct liquid connection from the accumulator, conduits connecting said pumps to said reservoir and to said accumulator and motor.

4. A hydraulic hand actuated propulsion system for lifeboats of the type having a propeller and propeller shaft to drive the propeller and a plurality of spaced seats, comprising a plurality of hand actuated hydraulic pumps, one position at each seat, a reservoir to supply liquid to the hydraulic pumps, a hydraulic accumulator to receive liquid under pressure from the pumps, and a hydraulic motor to drive said propeller shaft in turn driven by the hydraulic pressure applied to it from said accumulator, said pump consisting of double acting piston members which will feed liquid into the accumulator both upon forward and reverse movement, conduits connecting said pumps to said reservoir and to said accumulator and motor.

5. A hydraulic hand propelled lifeboat of the type having spaced seats and a propeller and propeller shaft, comprising separate pumps one for each seat positioned below said seats with handles extending upwardly above said seats enabling said pumps to be actuated, a reservoir with inlet conduits leading to each pump, an accumulator and a hydraulic motor connected to said pumps by a branch distribution system and a return flow line from said motor to said reservoir, said hydraulic motor being opcratively connected to rotate said propeller shaft.

6. The lifeboat of claim 5, each pump having a doubleacting piston and said motor having a fixed swash plate with an internal rotating mechanism including a plurality of cylinders and reciprocating pistons in the cylinders with the ends of the pistons having ball members riding on the swash plate.

7. A hydraulic hand propelled lifeboat propulsion system for a lifeboat of the type having a plurality of cross seats for passengers with a plurality of upwardly directed levers along the sides of the lifeboat readily accessible for operation by the passengers Without requiring sequential operation, said system having a plurality of reciprocating piston hydraulic pumps associated with and operated by each of said levers and positioned at the lower ends of said levers, a common inlet conduit with branches leading to the pumps and a common outlet conduit from the pumps, a hydraulic accumulator receiving fluid under pressure from said outlet conduit, a hydraulic motor capable of forward and reverse propulsion drive for the lifeboat, conduits connecting the accumulator and motor, a four Way valve arrangement located in the conduits connecting the accumulator with the motor to cause propulsion and a reservoir receiving fluid from the motor and the accumulator and supplying it to the pumps.

8. The system of claim 7, said valve having a single inlet conduit from the accumulator and having a plurality of outlet conduits, three in number, one leading to the 7 motor for direct forward propulsion, one leading to the motor for reverse propulsion and the third for by-passing the motor and permitting fluid to pass from the accumulater to the reservoir.

9. The system of claim 7, said pumps and actuating levers being positioned along the sides of the boat and between the cross seats so that the passengers sitting on the ends of said cross seats may operate the same.

10. The system of claim 7, said accumulator having a body of air compressed by the fluid forced therein by the pumps and said body of air being separated by the fluid under pressure by a reciprocating piston.

11. The system of claim 7, said accumulator having a reciprocating piston normally pressed to force out the fluid injected therein by the pumps by a compressed body of inert gas injected in one end thereof.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,458,880 Graham June 12, 1923 2,807,274 Evans Sept. 24, 1957 2,886,947 Jenny May 19, 1959 

1. A HYDRAULIC HAND ACTUATED PROPULSION SYSTEM FOR LIFEBOATS OF THE TYPE HAVING A PROPELLER AND PROPELLER SHAFT TO DRIVE THE PROPELLER AND A PLURALITY OF SPACED SEATS, COMPRISING A PLURALITY OF HAND ACTUATED HYDRAULIC PUMPS, ONE POSITION AT EACH SEAT, A RESERVOIR TO SUPPLY LIQUID TO THE HYDRAULIC PUMPS, A HYDRAULIC ACCUMULATOR TO RECEIVE LIQUID UNDER PRESSURE FROM THE PUMPS, AND A HYDRAULIC MOTOR TO DRIVE SAID PROPELLER SHAFT IN TURN DRIVEN BY THE HYDRAULIC PRESSURE APPLIED TO IT FROM SAID ACCUMULATOR, CONDUITS CONNECTING SAID PUMPS TO SAID RESERVOIR AND TO SAID ACCUMULATOR AND MOTOR. 